25 Mar Scientists and naturalists save a unique riparian forest
Scientists and naturalists will save a unique forest complex. It is one of the richest and, at the same time, the most endangered natural habitats in Poland.
The area located to the east of Młodzawy near Pińczów is the largest complex of 120 ha of ash-alder riparian forests, preserved in the lower reaches of the Nida River. The trees grow in a wet and marshy area near the river, creating a specific ecosystem.
Jacek Koba from the Regional Directorate of State Forests in Radom, notes that such habitats are very rare nowadays. In many cases, wetlands have been drained and managed by humans, and forests have been cleared. Therefore, in a unique complex near Młodzież, works are planned to restore the natural character of this place.
– For now, the entire area is monitored. Special equipment tests water levels at various locations. This will be the basis for future works related to the construction of special ditches and a system of gates regulating the water level. If everything goes well, the first works related to the implementation of this project could begin next year – he says.
Jacek Koba reminds that this initiative is part of a large project entitled “Renaturation of the inland delta of the Nida River” implemented since 2019 by the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, the Świętokrzyskie and Nadnidziańskie Landscape Parks Complex in cooperation with the Pińczów Forest District and the Institute of Nature Conservation of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Krakow and the University of Agriculture in Krakow.
– It is a very broad project and the riparian forest is part of it. Within the framework of this project it is planned to restore not only the riparian forest habitats but also other interesting places in Ponidzie in terms of nature. It also foresees that the Nida region will be inhabited by rare species of birds, amphibians and reptiles that once lived here but later disappeared as a result of human activity – he emphasizes.
The complex itself is a fantastic refuge for numerous bird species. You can see the traces of deer, wild boars and beavers, and in the spring you can hear the singing of hundreds of bird’s throats. White-tailed eagles are also regularly observed near the complex.
The estimated cost of the reconstruction of the riparian forest in Młodzawy amounts to several hundred thousand PLN.